Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-02-03
JOS LUCK.
1t Came to Him In the Shape q . Grea
Railroad Wash-Out.

All CopiS hiACo,
who amt killed fairly cleaned out. The
wind s jas broke UP every thing. an
left them poor as Jobs turkey" x'he
speaker was long-haired, cadavaous
looking individual, who spit tobacco
juice about freely as he delivered him.
self of the foregoing statement. A mot
ley group mad gathered around the
huge stove, for although raw wind
was blowing outside, the store door
was left Hospitality open to entiee GUS
tonnes.
Eyes, hard lines, replied the court
eous proprietor; land the cyclone came
within five miles of us, twill be our
turn next. Contributions will be taken
in al the churches tomorrow for the
sufferers p"
wall, people ought to perfect their
selves," continued the first speaker.
''Now I've dug big hole in the groun',
sort of a vault like, We know, an tell
my folks if worst comes tOahe worst,
we can JUS pile lin there"
$50 you have prepared city Of
refuge;;a good idea" was the reply;
'tyet we may escape, although this part
Of the,SOuth seems to be the section
just now chosenfor such operations.
Better all go nome an dig holes in
the groun'," was the courrryman's ad
xice'as he stalkea out of THE store.
Among the Interested listeners was
80. "a little colored boy. He had battled
with storms, and knew Ivy actual ez-
'peiience that high wind was not a
fosce to be despised. '.Let the siklone
come" he 'chWckled, IFS prepared.
" ain't cherry uE dat owns a gran ur-
dergroun' state. Take,u mighty high
wind to upset my palIis. l can Icy
'dsre rs snug as a top, with never fe;H
d,t my roof will sail off seber my heaG.
.Ler! but don't the wind blow. i
tb'licve a siklOne's comm sure nuff!"
The wind continued to Blow, gaining
lin force as the,tay waned, and by night
tie rain fell in torrents. The streets
Were nearly deserted, with here arc
there traveller who struggled wearily
against the Storm. Notwithstanding
3e,s high opinitn of the cd points Gf
his establishment, hungry: and cold he
still wandered g'estlessly about, loath
ito take possession of his snug quarters.
Its bad luck I've had Today" he;
sad; Eyes, confounded bal luck! /
thought for sure Jim would pay me
dat nickel. he'sa po' trifin' CHAP. AM
Mr.. Curtis. pears like he thinks Us
rich. reckon he knows live III pallis"
and 10 laughed bitterly. mo mat
ter he continued more .eheerfully,
'''tsin't the first time I've turned in
supperlcss." And SO. footsore. and with
avery faint feeling in the region of the
stomach, the forlOrn little figure
tru6ged bravely ,sniin the darkness to-
wasd his cave-iibe berth on the side of;s
hill not far from the railroad. Here 10
had taken possession Of q small natural
cavern. and set Up housekeeping. His
household goods consisted of few
pieces of broken srockery, and frag-
ment of quilt. mighty good of
Dinah to give me this ere. Soliloquized
10. rs he wrapped IKE old quilt closely
about Rim; 'recken I'll pay her call
ii: the ,hlornin'. bite of her cold vittles
would go right good. IwoRder if it's
warm mp deere where another went! No
night, no hunger, ns cold. shouldn't
min trying it my own self" But poor
JOS troubles We're soon forgotten in a
dreamless sleep.
He awoke toward morning in speech
less terror 1t seemed as if the earth
underneath him was shaken. there was
a sound rs if a heavy body had fallen.
then all was silence. WAS it the
siklonc?' he thought Gradually he
gathered courage and his scattered
wits. I'm go out and 'vestigate." he
said. although shaking with fear.
~Jerushyr' he cried. The frequent
and violent rains had taken effect
Looking down toward the railroad
track. he saw, in the dim light. that a
portion of the embankment underneath
it had given away. 'Jerushy"' he re-
peated. "a wash out, an it's mos time
for the early train" As he slept in his
clothes. he could dispense with the
little ceremony of dressing. and with
TO thought of the pelting storm. he
rushed breathless and head!ong to the
station. The official there could scarce
" credit JOS words, but was forced to
believe the evidences of his own senses,
and the train was signaled and stopped
ere it reached the fatal break. The
washout created profound sensation
in the little town, and the Narrow es-
cape of the train was nine days
wonder.
When Monday morning came, the
usual number of loafers were gathered
about the stove in the corner grocery,
and our friend. the lank countryman.
was engaged in his fayorite occupation